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Immersion Experience: Memphis
DAY TWO IN MEMPHIS
Day 2 in Memphis was a busy day with groups working and exploring all over the city!
Madeleine Hepworth - Today my group went to a non-profit called Arise2Read, to the Civil Rights Museum, and to dinner. While my favorite part of the day was the museum, the most impactful was working at the non-profit. Arise2Read gives books to second graders struggling with sight words. We were told that our task was to put labels on books, and groups of 15 people had been able to label 4,000 books in three hours. However, we quickly accomplished that task in less than that time, so they gave us boxes of books to open. I was quickly reminded of elementary school when I saw books like “Because of Winn Dixie” and “Charlotte's Web”. Knowing that other children were being given the opportunity to read these books made me feel really happy on top of the sense of the accomplishment I felt from all of our hard work. One of my favorite parts of this experience was talking to each other as we worked. We then went to tour Room In the Inn and I noticed how dedicated the employees were as many had the opportunity to have a different job. We then broke into our small groups and my group went to the museum. As we pulled up, I really had no idea what to expect but as I reflect, the 2 hours we spent in the museum were some of the most impactful 2 hours of my life. I truly had the opportunity to feel immersed in the history of the country as well as the city of Memphis in ways I had never experienced.
Vivi Devlin - My group had so much fun today. We woke up with 10 minutes to get ready because we didn’t hear anyone wake us up. The boys were ready and waiting, which is rare. But we made it to our first volunteer site on time. My favorite parts of the day were driving in the van with Mr. Dwyer and going to the Civil Rights Museum. We have 3 big vans that we split up between by our evening groups. My night group is Maddie S, Ian L, Owen M, Madilene H, and Terran. But today, we mixed it up a bit in the morning and we were all singing to Sabrina Carpenter and Bruno Mars. Everyone was smiling and it boosted the morning mood, especially on our first day. Also, we had coffee, so that may have contributed to the happy mood. Later in the day, my evening group and I went to the Civil Rights museum. This was located at the Lorraine Motel where MLK Junior was shot. We were welcomed by such nice people and saw an amazing piece of art in the lobby of the museum. It was a giant wall of people climbing, representing the upward climb towards equality. There were 23 exhibits we walked through and ended in MLK’s hotel room. We saw the balcony he was shot on. We also saw a ton of interactive props. Buses, diners, slave boats. The museum was packed with artifacts and information about our history, from slaves to the present. By the end, we were all very quiet and a bit depressed. This is the only way to express how we felt. A lot of emotions and thoughts came from walking through this museum. But, as we walked through, my classmates and I were amazed at how much of the information we already knew. I am grateful that Regis has taught us about the events of our country’s past, and in depth too. I was proud to say that I knew about a lot of the people and events that were focused on in the museum. After we toured, my group went to the Crossroads. This was a marketplace/shopping/dining building. It was so cool. We got burgers and chicken tenders and fries. Owen and Ian got milkshakes, and they were very disappointed because they tasted weird. They are convinced that they were made with milk and ice only. That was the only bad part of the dinner. We had some great conversations and were able to get to know each other better. The day has felt like 5 in one, so I can’t wait to see what is in store for tomorrow. Also, the showers and beds here are great!
Delaney Renner - Today me and two others went to an organization called Manna House. This is a house that is open from 8-10 in the morning for a warm shower, sugary coffee, and a fresh change of clothes. As we walked in there were about 20 people experiencing homelessness waiting to come in. We were greeted by Ashley and Barron who shared with us a little behind how Manna House works. I was stationed with another volunteer, Mike, where we handed out new outfits, monitored showers, and folded and washed laundry. The clothes were run down and smelly. I then switched to go outside and pass out coffee. I was surprised of how much sugar they put in their coffee. There, I talked to a man about how we hate the Chiefs and want to Eagles to win. I noticed that the people there were very gracious and that a warm cup of coffee and a fresh shower was enough to put a smile on their faces. After the Manna House, Mrs. Cole, Jenny, Brooklyn and I went to a playground where we all played on. We then met back up with the big group at the Room at The Inn. After, Terry, the organizations volunteer coordinator, showed us around. It was our groups turn to cook dinner for the guests, so we went to the store. We decided on grilled cheese and tomato soup. When we got back, we started making the food. Claire and I made 80 grilled cheeses!!! After we served all the guests we went back to The Bunkhouse for bed. Great day!
Delaney Renner - Today me and two others went to an organization called Manna House. This is a house that is open from 8-10 in the morning for a warm shower, sugary coffee, and a fresh change of clothes. As we walked in there were about 20 people experiencing homelessness waiting to come in. We were greeted by Ashley and Barron who shared with us a little behind how Manna House works. I was stationed with another volunteer, Mike, where we handed out new outfits, monitored showers, and folded and washed laundry. The clothes were run down and smelly. I then switched to go outside and pass out coffee. I was surprised of how much sugar they put in their coffee. There, I talked to a man about how we hate the Chiefs and want to Eagles to win. I noticed that the people there were very gracious and that a warm cup of coffee and a fresh shower was enough to put a smile on their faces. After the Manna House, Mrs. Cole, Jenny, Brooklyn and I went to a playground where we all played on. We then met back up with the big group at the Room at The Inn. After, Terry, the organizations volunteer coordinator, showed us around. It was our groups turn to cook dinner for the guests, so we went to the store. We decided on grilled cheese and tomato soup. When we got back, we started making the food. Claire and I made 80 grilled cheeses!!! After we served all the guests we went back to The Bunkhouse for bed. Great day!
Rafael Rico-Rodriguez – Today, I went to Room at the Inn where I got to spend valuable time with my classmates and local people. During our time in the city today, we cooked a meal of tomato soup and grilled cheese for over sixty people. My favorite parts of today were going grocery shopping because I asked a local how many ounces were in a quart, a conversion she knew by heart. Today was incredibly valuable because I learned that service doesn’t always have to be direct or address a huge issue. Sometimes, we do a better job of serving others when we do the small and mundane tasks that are often neglected. We do not need to be special people or do talented things. We just need to be in the right place at the right time to help someone who needs a little bit of help. If that takes the form of chopping onions, baking grilled cheese sandwiches, or washing dishes then I say we ought to embrace those tasks with grace and vigor. Giving a service to someone can be a rewarding thing when the other person leaves the interaction having been valued and respected. If we place the person above a “gross”, “disgusting”, or “crappy” job, then we have effectively made them human worthy of dignity and respect. I am glad to have cooked today because it let me engage with the city in many ways – from the store to the innkeepers, to the folks we helped feed. Every small action counts, so each one needs to be done with care.
MaKayla Shively – Today we started the day off by visiting Arise to Read which is an organization that helps second graders learn site words and excel in reading. The organizers were very welcoming, kind, and grateful for our help. It was so great to feel like we were making an impact and putting smiles on the children’s faces. We then enjoyed lunch and got a tour of Room at the Inn where my group will be making dinner for the visitors tomorrow. It is such an amazing organization that provides housing for those in need, and it feels great to be part of something so important. After spending most of the day in our large group, we split into our small groups where we spent most of the evening together. My small group got to visit the largest Bass Pro Shop in the U.S. and had a lot of fun walking around and getting to know each other. We took an elevator up to a lookout at the top of the store and spent time taking pictures and admiring the view of the Mississippi River. It was so exciting to see a new city and take in the beautiful view. Then, my group walked on a bridge over the river and crossed over the line from Tennessee to Arkansas. On our walk, we debriefed about our day so far and shared examples of things we noticed and wondered about the people and places we had encountered. It was very interesting to hear what others had to say and share their perspective. After our eventful afternoon, my group went to the grocery store where we picked up ingredients for our dinner. Once we came back to the bunkhouse, we made ramen noodles and brownies and talked while enjoying our meal. We then played a game called Home Sweet Homelessness which really gave me a new perspective of the challenges that those experiencing homelessness face. Today was an overall impactful and fulfilling day that allowed me to meet new people and learn new lessons about the people of Memphis.
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